My First Water Cooled Build

Kropsky · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:25

So this is my first water cooled build project. In fact I've never built a PC before, just swapped bits out and upgraded. So it's a daunting task but one I hope will be interesting.

It centres around the STH10, so day one is all about assembling the thing. Here are some images...

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A big box.

Very well packaged at that.

Every single item, big or small, was packaged like this. Pretty impressive.

An overwhelming amount of stuff was in the box. Didn't know where to start. Instructions helped a lot.

Another angle

I started by joining the chassis compartment with upper and lower mid plates

This is what it looked like once both were attached. Couldn't work out how to join the pieces, and then realised the scres were countersunk for a reason...I'm an idiot.

Next up was to attach the rear chassis

And then the top and bottom chassis

Front chassis and cover was next, followed by I/0 panel.

Lovely design for SSD, HDD bays

Now the motherboard backplate. It was a little tricky since it slides out and I had to make sure it was all level. Nothing too stressy, just fiddly.

Closed...

And open...

Top cover goes on

All covers

Front door goes on

And protective film comes off

CaptainRAVE · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:29

All I see is a box

Edit: Will get this moved to project logs as it seems to be more of a work in progress

OptimaLnrg · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:42

If you're build this atm you could start a thread in project logs in the cases section?

Kropsky · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:46

Tomorrow I'll crack on with mounting the rad mounts and the rads, as well as the fans.

I'll try and work out how to add tops to the pumps I bought.

Hardware arrives on Monday so it's a decent idea to get this stuff done now.

See you later.

Kropsky · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:46

OK thanks for that. Can you see more than the box though? First time I've uploaded pics, and I can see them...can you?

OptimaLnrg · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:48

Yea i can see everything

CaptainRAVE · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:48

Kropsky said:
OK thanks for that. Can you see more than the box though? First time I've uploaded pics, and I can see them...can you?

I can now - when I first looked at the thread there was only the box. There are lots now though

Keep us updated

Kropsky · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:49

Will do. Do I just come to this thread again or should I do it again but in the build log section?

CaptainRAVE · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:51

Just come to this thread again, it will just be in the build log section

tamzzy · 21 Jul 2012 at 23:51

Kropsky said:

wtf, reminds me of buying ikea stuff lol

Kropsky · 22 Jul 2012 at 00:01

I know right? A lot of stuff.

Kropsky · 22 Jul 2012 at 00:04

CaptainRAVE said:
Just come to this thread again, it will just be in the build log section

OK thanks a lot.

Kropsky · 22 Jul 2012 at 22:02

Day Two: Fans and stuff

Today I put the wheels on the ST10. Good quality stuff.

I then cracked open the water cooling stuff I have got. I've pretty much got all of it - just waiting on EK water blocks for GPUs - I'm sure the royal mail will get them to me before the end of the year.

Started by laying out the front intake fans for the case

And then installed

Here's the 480 Black Ice Rad I'm putting in the top chamber.

Frame installed first

Fans installed and rad too.

Had a panic when I pushed a screw too far on a couple of occassions and bent the fins. I don't think it knackered the water channels but I will have to be very vigilant when leak testing later down the line.

Bottom chamber rad - 560 - up next. Using Pk3 Noise blockers. Had to take out one of the chassis fans to get the rad in - it's really quite large.

With these fans you get the rubbarised edging to help with vibration reduction. Since they are silent bearings I didn't bother, because even with the longer scres they provide with the fans, there's still enough screw to bugger up the fins on the rad. i played it safe and just installed with a shorter screw. Didn't bother with the fancy edging stuff.

Sorry about shaky focus. Hopefully you can make out the back of the case and the fans/rads in upper and lower chambers.

Last thing - I have not been able to attach the 560 rad to the frame. Here is a picture of it (sorry again for the rubbish quality). Any idea what screw length I would need? Can't find any around the home. Need to go out and get some. I need to make sure that I don't do the stupid thing I did before with the upper rad.

Jay85 · 22 Jul 2012 at 22:32

Sweet jesus that 560 is huge!

How much was the case btw?

Kropsky · 22 Jul 2012 at 22:34

500 quid. I know, I know.

Darkninja462 · 22 Jul 2012 at 23:21

Looking good subbed, that case is massive design resembling my scratch build to

Mei · 23 Jul 2012 at 06:42

oo i was looking at that 480 rad, do they only make these rads in black? i mean it suits your build perfect but i want one in silver or bare alu

Kropsky · 23 Jul 2012 at 07:56

Hi. Not sure. I've only ever seen them in black. They'll be invisible behind the grills anyway

Kropsky · 23 Jul 2012 at 07:57

Any ideas as to how I can hide all those horrible case fans wires?!

Mei · 23 Jul 2012 at 08:39

hm black tape? or some kind of black wrap
sleeving all them wuld take forever